Analyze data & support decisions

Analysts, spreadsheet users, operations staff and managers interpreting results.

Before you start

Comfort with a basic spreadsheet or calculator. Coding is optional.

Tools and access

A spreadsheet or calculator; optional local Python. Text-only AI can explain a plan but cannot establish that calculations ran.

Your evidence of capability

A cleaned dataset, calculation record, decision note and limitations.

Planning estimate

4 hours 7 minutes of reading and practice. Authored estimate, not measured learner time. Shared foundations and optional deeper study add time.

Start your first focused lesson →

Six lessons, increasing independence

Each lesson includes a worked example, a separate task, acceptance criteria, review notes and a knowledge check. The capstone combines the skills in a new case.

1. 01
   Define the question and the data contract

   Specify the unit of analysis before calculating.

   Get started · 9 min read + 20 min practice

2. 02
   Clean data without hiding your decisions

   Create a reversible cleaning record.

   Get started · 9 min read + 20 min practice

3. 03
   Verify calculations with executable evidence

   Calculate and cross-check totals, rates and changes.

   Apply independently · 9 min read + 30 min practice

4. 04
   Compare alternatives without overstating causation

   Evaluate options against equivalent tasks and transparent criteria.

   Apply independently · 9 min read + 30 min practice

5. 05
   Communicate uncertainty and decision sensitivity

   Show how missing information affects a recommendation.

   Handle complex work · 9 min read + 30 min practice

6. 06
   Capstone: produce a reproducible decision analysis

   Deliver a calculation package a colleague can inspect.

   Handle complex work · 12 min read + 60 min practice

Revisit shared foundations when needed

• Verify evidence and unsupported claims
• Distinguish model, harness and data paths

These links open the existing general-course lessons; they do not create duplicate copies or completion records.

Adapt the work to your model and tools

Text-only assistant

Use supplied text. Ask for a plan or draft; do not claim browsing, code execution or file access that was unavailable.

Tool-enabled application or harness

Record which tools actually run, allowed files and actions, approval boundaries and observable results. Tools are optional unless the task needs them.

Local or cloud deployment

Inspect inference, retrieval, connectors, logs and storage separately. Use only authorized environments for real data; training fixtures are fictional.

Higher-capability or frontier model

Evaluate the exact task and configuration. Capability does not supply missing evidence or grant permission. No provider ranking or guarantee is implied.

Offline alternative

Use the supplied inputs and inspect the worked example manually. Builder exercises use local deterministic Python. No paid account or live model call is required.

Content revision 2026-10-03. Examples are authored fictional fixtures. Self-review is not independent grading, certification or operational approval.